CLEMENT C. BLAY, CEO OF SHAIP AFRICA FOUNDATION URGES GOVERNMENT TO PRIORITIZE TECHNICAL EDUCATION

The Chief Executive Officer for Shaip Africa Foundation, Mr. Clement Clinton Blay wants government to walk the talk on promises to prioritize technical and vocational education.

According to the NGO, this will ensure that the country’s educational system produces graduates who have the capacity to engage economic opportunities and participate in the prosperity agenda, leading to peace.

Mr. Clement Clinton Blay indicated that, vocational and technical education had made so many countries great due to the huge investment and the importance they attached to that area.

He made the call when he came into the assistance of St. Luke Vocational Training Institute which is located in Eikwe, in the Ellembelle district of the Western region after he facilitated the repairing of the institution’s 28 faulty machines and handed over to them on Saturday.





Speaking in an interview with New Day FM journalist Kaakyire Kwasi Afari, he said, with more focus on vocational and technical education, persons who did not get admissions to senior high school or willing to go into technical training could enrol to pursue those programmes.

He revealed that recent statistics have shown that job opportunities are very limited on the African continent, making it difficult for graduates to find jobs, and more so for people without any technical or vocational skills.

Therefore, he is urging parents across the country to prioritize Technical, Vocational Education and Training for their children, as it presents more self-employment career opportunities.

Mr. Clement Clinton Blay is of the view therefore, that in order to make technical and vocational training a programme of choice and not by chance, such schools should be part of the free SHS so that students after the JHS would be attracted to it considering its essential role in industrialization in the country.

The head teacher of St. Luke Vocational Training Institute, Father Charles Nuamah has appealed to government to adopt their Vocational School which is currently funded by Takoradi Roman Catholic Diocese to ensure its effective operation.

He underlined the need for parents, teachers and other stakeholders to encourage students to develop their interest in vocations that suit their academic performance.

Father Charles Nuamah commended Mr. Clement Clinton Blay for his huge investment towards the school whiles he called on the government and other benevolent to come to their support.

St. Luke Vocational Training Institute, is a Catholic Mission School which provides free tuition in the area of skilled training such as; painting, dressing making, carpentry, hair dressing, electricals and other technical and vocational training for the youth.

Source: Kaakyire Kwasi Afari, New Day FM.